DUNMORE, Pa. — Almost two weeks after Hurricane Helene caused billions of dollars in damage across Florida and North Carolina, Hurricane Milton is nearing landfall.
"The need is indescribable," said Meghan Carnevale, the Mission Advancement & Marketing Director at the Greater Scranton YMCA.
In between the storms, organizations like the Greater Scranton YMCA in Dunmore are looking to help those who need it most.
Working with the Pennsylvania State Alliance of YMCAs, the non-profit and others across the state hope to raise thousands in funds for the Centre County YMCA.
There, crews will buy much-needed supplies in bulk to be shipped to a food distribution center in Asheville, North Carolina.
"There is one food distribution center that's functioning in the Asheville region, and that's the YMCA's. Um, so they're really, really working hard to serve those people in need," said Carnevale.
At Zummo's Cafe in Scranton, Donations for hurricane victims and their families continue pouring in.
"The response from the community in Scranton and surrounding areas has been absolutely unbelievable," said Eileen Brennan of Scranton.
She started gathering goods with a focus on expecting mothers and newborns.
"Packaged, waterproof like this, and labeled. So, sterile gloves, flushable wipes, cleaning supplies," said Brennan as she went through the day's donations.
However, her list has grown with Hurricane Milton expected to batter already damaged communities.
"And they are asking for more of phase two survival items which involve, um, gas cans, propane tanks, camping stoves, tarps, things that can set people up to survive through, not only the next round of storms that are coming through but also the drop in temperatures that's about to happen," said Brennan.
Donations for hurricane victims at the Greater Scranton YMCA and Zummo's Cafe will go on into next week in Lackawanna County.